RN-ICU in Kingston, New York at Westchester Medical Center

Job Summary

The Registered Nurse (RN) is accountable for providing a restorative healing experience for the patient and the patient's support systems in transformational partnership with the Clinical Manager and the interdisciplinary team. As an accountable professional, the Registered Nurse exercises autonomy (the right to undertake a specified action), authority (the power to implement action), and control (the ability to enforce the action in an ongoing and consistent manner) in order to ensure these excellent patient outcomes. Professional accountability is expressed in five areas: practice, quality assurance, competence, research, and resource management.

Responsibilities:

• Completes a thorough patient assessment addressing all pathophysiologic and psychosocial needs.
• Identifies key nursing diagnosis from the assessment data.
• Prioritizes nursing diagnoses with consideration of cultural/religious/spiritual needs.
• Establishes data-driven individualized plan-of-care.
• Implements individualized plan-of-care/discharge plan including coordination with other disciplines utilizing clinical experience as a guide.
• Utilizes critical thinking skills in adapting plan-of-care in response to changes in patient needs.
• Evaluates outcomes of plan-of-care and alters plan as needed.
• Recognizes and intervenes in situations related to patient safety.
• Organizes and prioritizes work assignments based on the patient needs and acuity.
• Demonstrates ability to make effective nursing judgments.
• Documents patient’s progress legibly and in a timely manner.
• Documents nursing interventions and patient responses in accordance with hospital policy.
• Advocates for patient well being (i.e., religious /culture preferences, privacy, etc.)
• Communicates patient data in clear, concise and timely manner both in written and verbal form.
• Individualizes communication based upon assessment of patient/family.
• Identifies and evaluates the patient’s and family’s learning needs, abilities and readiness to learn – teaches and documents appropriately.
• Delegates and supervises patient care appropriately.
• Functions as a charge nurse according to protocol. Assists nurse manager in performance appraisals.
• Participates in unit based QI projects. Initiates a unit specific project related to clinical care of the patients.
• Manages patient care within assigned time frames.
• Actively participates in coordination of care on the unit. Willingly floats to other areas of hospital.
• Functions and upholds the professional standards of the registered nurse role via evidence-based practice, interactions and appearance. Identifies potential areas of nursing research. Assists with Nursing Research projects. Helps participate in orientation and precepting of staff as needed.
• Accepts accountability for own practice. Identifies potential learning needs of staff.
• Administers medications safely including: preparation, pre and post assessment, and monitoring of patient’s responses.
• Promotes a culture of safety by fostering an attitude of trust, participation and collaboration among colleagues.
• Identifies potentially dangerous situations to his/her manager which could cause medical error/patient or staff harm and takes action, where appropriate to minimize risk of injury.
• Reports errors, documents appropriately.

Education:

• • Graduate of an accredited school of nursing, currently licensed in the State of New York, or permittee. Membership in a professional organization suggested.

Experience:

• • Basic knowledge of nursing theory and practice. Knowledge of appropriate technology and practice standards for area of responsibility. Demonstrates sound clinical skills; knowledge of Hospital structure, objectives and standards of practice, positive communication skills.
  • Minimum of one year RN experience in Med/Surg

Training/License:

• • New York State Registered Nurse license required, or permittee.

Other:

• BLS, ACLS, PAL and Stroke Certification required (must obtain ACLS, PALS/Stroke Cert within Orientation/Probationary Period